Profile

Vision

A world, in which peace, justice and equality prevails, individuals and
communities live in dignity and harmony respecting cultural and natural
diversity. A world in which, people participate in their social, cultural,
political affairs/life and economic well-being, and to the rights to a life of
dignity.”

Mission

“Our mission is to empower and enable people especially children, women, the aged and other disadvantaged in society, to participate powerfully in their overall development. Our mission is to create and strengthen peoples’ institutions that sustain, promote and fulfill their development needs and rights to a life of dignity’’

Values

PECUC is committed to abide with the values in fulfillment of our mission - in all our programmes and in the organization. The values that inspire us and guide our actions are:

Peace, Equity, Equality &Justice

Gender justice

Respect and protection of our natural environment.

Participation - the right of people to be consulted with regard to the development of their communities, environment and anything that concerns them.

Participation, gender equity, child protection, environmental sustainability, human rights and dignity of all will form the keystones of PECUC’s context in development and will specifically incorporated in all our programmes and interventions.

Background & History

Peoples’ Cultural Centre (PECUC) is a non-profit voluntary organization formally registered during 1990, with the purpose to empower the weaker sections of the society. During last 25 years PECUC worked with children, women, the aged, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other socio-economically backward and marginalized communities in the state of Odisha.

PECUC was initiated in late 1980s by a group of social activists, professionals from different background, artists and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers to help the children of different slums and outlying villages of Bhubaneswar to provide a platform for the children to explore their potential.

We are working for Children with focus on Child labour, children from SC and ST communities, Girl children, Orphans, Single parent children, children with disability etc to mainstream them. We have taken initiatives to rescuing children from labour force, till date we have experienced motivating more than 25,000 children to rescue from child labour and enrolled in formal school. We have supported for access to formal schooling by Children through setting up motivation centers in villages, providing educational kit to children, providing study materials including books, school bag etc. PECUC is organizing Sisumela to promote creativity amongst children. we have also supported schools to improve their teaching learning materials by setting up libraries in schools, providing teaching learning materials to schools, providing sports items to school etc. To empower older people we have promoted older self help groups and supported them livelihood options/opportunities i.e supporting to get into different income generation activities, organized health check ups camps for the elderly people and also facilitated cataract surgery. Keeping in mind the women empowerment PECUC has promoted women self help group and strengthened them through trainings, exposures and providing livelihood supports.

During disaster and post disaster being present in the affected areas we are supporting relief and rehabilitation of the affected peoples. To promote a healthy environment in the communities and educate community people on different health issues we are organizing health awareness camps in the villages followed by referral services. We have also developed and distributed different IEC materials on health education. Through street plays, Awareness meetings we are educating community people on different issues, Schemes and Programmes of Government etc. We have conducted trainings on different skills to support community people to enhance their skill and have livelihood options all time. Constructed water bodies in the remote tribal areas to reduce water scarcity and avail water source both for agriculture purpose and drinking water purpose.

As an initiative to protect environment we have promoted more than 100 Youth Groups and facilitating plantation, awareness generation and community education programmes to protect environment and promote environment friendly activities in the communities.

However, PECUC during last twenty five years of journey has focused on Child welfare including education for children, health, Emergency relief and rehabilitation, Women welfare and empowerment, Welfare of aged, Plantation &Environment protection, Promoting livelihood , agriculture development, capacity building of key stakeholders, welfare of schedule caste and schedule tribe communities and other marginalized sections of the society.

PECUC to implement its programmes and activities has developed a team of dedicated professionals who have taken the responsibilities of implementing the projects and programmes effectively. The staff and volunteers from diverse academic background and related development experience in areas of child rights, sustainable agriculture and alternative livelihoods, women empowerment ,emergency management ,age care , research and publication.

PECUC has been honoured& awarded by various Govt. & Non-Govt. organization for its sincerity, commitment & outstanding contribution in various fields.

PECUC also involved as a Member of different committees formed by different Departments of Govt of Odisha and the District Administration .

Vision 2020

PECUC VISION 2020 is our strategic plan for the period 2010 to 2019 and has been drawn based on the past experiences, lessons learnt, organizational visions, mission, values, strength, weakness, challenges and opportunities. The plan emphasizes right based sustainable development, a concept that visualizes greater capacities of social systems, structures, institutions and policies to utilize resources for achieving favorable levels of living standards with desirable value systems, better distribution of income, wealth and opportunities and above all ecological balance.

PECUC would continue to focus primarily on child rights and develop a human rights culture where each and every individual can enjoy their right to a life of dignity. Hence PECUC has prioritized to focus on the issues relating to democracy and human rights, women empowerment, health, environment, livelihood, governance, gender justice, active ageing, emergency management and disaster mitigation too during these years.

Legal Status

PECUC is registered under the rules and provisions of the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 ,Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi and under Section 12 AA & 80 G (5) (vi) of Income Tax Act 1961.

Governance

PECUC is being formed, managed, administered, governed & functioning by its own written constitution approved by its General Body & registered with Registrar of the Societies. General Body is the highest policymaking Body which meets annually to frame the overall policies. General Body has 11 members Board of Management which has been authorized by the general body to aid and advise the workforce functioning under the leadership of Secretary. Board of Management meets on quarterly basis to review the over all functioning of the organization while rendering service to the society at large. Board of Management is the final authority for approval of annual budget and passing of the statutory audit report of the organization. Chairman is the head of the Board& Secretary, the chief functionary acts as executive head responsible for all day to day affairs on behalf of Board of Management.

Networks & Alliances

CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHILDLABOUR [CACL]-: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT AND COORDINATING THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FROM 2003 -2007. Presently National Executive Member and Member of Odisha state Executive Committee

ODISHA ALLIANCE ON CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF THE CHILD [OACRC]– STATE COORDINATING AGENCY

ORISSA VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION– Life member and Governing body member

NAWO (National Alliance For Women Organisations) - Life Member

WECAN [Campaign to End Violence Against Women] - State core team member

Staff Members

PECUC to implement its programmes and activities has developed a team of dedicated professionals who have taken the responsibilities of implementing the projects and programmes effectively. The staff and volunteers from diverse academic background and related development experience in areas of child rights, sustainable agriculture and alternative livelihoods, women empowerment ,emergency management ,age care , human rights education, policy advocacy, research and publication.

Awards and Honors

PECUC has been honoured & awarded by various Govt. & Non-Govt. organization for its sincerity, commitment & outstanding contribution in various fields. Some are as follows.

STATE YOUTH AWARD-1994-95
(For outstanding contribution in the field of youth development & involving youths in promoting literacy, plantation and social development activities) by State Youth Welfare Board Orissa, Dept. of Sports and Youth Services, Govt. of Orissa .

NATIONAL YOUTH Festival 1995 -2nd Best performance Award for presenting a Hindi one Act plays on Drug Abuse prevention in the NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL at BHOPAL representing Orissa (Dept. Of Sports & Youth Services), by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.

Best Community contingency Plan for Disaster Preparedness - 2001 Best community contingency plan preparation for community based Disaster Preparedness in Balianta Block, KhurdaDist, By Orissa state Disaster Mitigation Authority [OSDMA]

“Certificate of Honour” by Block administration of Bhograi in Balasore for outstanding Achievement in the field of overall Disaster Risk Reduction initiative.

Best School Safety plan, 2011-12 Awarded by National Institute for Disaster Management [NIDM],Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India

Best School Safety plan, 2011-12 Awarded by National Institute for Disaster Management [NIDM],Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India

National CSO Award 2015 , for the Best Campaign on Voter’s Education & awareness for General Election to Loksabha Election 2014 ,Election Commission of India ,NewDelhi .

Our Partners

PECUC is working with different Individuals ,Agencies of local ,National and Internal level including Government of India & Government of Odisha ,UN agencies, INGOS, Networks and alliances ,corporate and commercial establishment ,Banks and NBFCs etc.